Clip for securing hot top lining slabs

ABSTRACT

A hot top clip consists generally of a ring or polygon including at least one Z-shaped section which can be deformed to expand the ring or polygon. Attached to that ring or polygon there can be a second ring or polygon in plane substantially parallel to the first and of slightly larger size.

Unlted States Patent 1191 1111 3,762,033 McCray Oct. 2, 1973 [54] CLIP FOR SECURING HOT TOP LINING 828,931 8/1906 Cummings 287/189.35 X SLABS 1,805,797 5 1931 Bates 287/189.35 x 1,998,898 4/1935 Konkel 287/l89.35 [75] In nt r: W l r A- y. Berea. i 3,362,677 l/l968 Folberth 249 202 Assignec: Foseco lnternafional Limited, 2,558,414 6/1951 Blackman 24/261 R X Birmingham, England Filed! 1972 Primary ExaminerRobert D. Baldwin 2 pp] No2 222 933 At!0rneyC. Frederick Leydig el al.

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 151,499, June 9,

57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 29/522, 29/526, 249/202 51 1111. C1 822d 7/10, 821d 39/00 A hot p p consists generally of a ring or P y [58] Field of Search 249/202; 269/48.l, eluding at least one p section which can be 269/52; 29/229, 239, 172, 522, 526; f rmed to expand the ring or polygon. Attached to that 287/l89.35; 24/261 R; 164/33, 137 ring or polygon there can be a second ring or polygon in plane substantially parallel to the first and of slightly [56] References Cited larger Size- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 484,459 10/1892 Reynolds 24/261 R 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Pmminw 3,752,033

SHEET 2 [1F 3 RG5 FiG.6

PATENTEDUET "2 v SHEET 3 [IF 3 CLIP FOR SECURING HOT TOP IJINING SLABS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation in part of my application Ser. No. 151,499 filed June 9, 1971.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to securing hot top lining slabs in position, and to clips for effecting this.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART In the casting of molten metals to form ingots it is common practice to line the head of the ingot mould, or a superimposed head box thereon, with slabs of exothermic or heat-insulating material. These slabs serve to delay the loss of heat from the ingot heat metal, thus keeping it molten and allowing molten metal flow to compensate for shrinkage in the body of the ingot as it solidifies. The assembly of such slabs is known as a hot I013.

The slabs are positioned in the mould head or head box prior to teeming molten metal into the mould. During teeming the molten metal level rises inside the slabs to a height of usually a few inches only below the upper edges of the slabs. Prior to teeming, it is often the case that the mould and lining must be transported some distance between a hot top lining station and the teeming station. Both such transport and the subsequent teeming of molten metal tend to dislodge the hot top from its position, and it is thus important to ensure that the hot top slabs are fixed in position securely, e.g. by clips, tie-rods or the like. In particular, the slabs must be firmly adjacent the mould or head box wall to avoid molten metal penetrating behind the slab and forcing it away from the wall.

In the past many different systems and devices have been suggested for holding the hot top in position, but most have been cumbersome, expensive and difficult to use. No one method has gained any widespread acceptance. Recently it has been realised that a disadvantage of many prior art hot top clips was that they tended to hold only the upper regions of each hot top slab onto the mould or head box, leaving the lower edge free. This tends to give rise to finning of cast metal, which is undesirable, and the difficulties are particularly pro-' nounced in the case of big-end-down ingot moulds.

A further difficulty is that in many instances the hot top needsto be positioned at different levels within the mould to accommodate the need for ingots of different weights. Hot top clips are limited in the number of teeming levels at which they will effectively secure the hot top. In many cases, clips of different sizes are necessary to cater for different teeming levels in the same size mould.

' OBJECTS OF THIS INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a hot top clip for securely holding the lower portions of a set of hot top lining slabs or a unitary lining in position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a clip for the purpose just set forth which is easily handled and put to use, but which is at the same time cheaply and robustly made.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hot top clip which functions satisfactorily independently of its vertical position in the mould.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION These and other objects are fulfilled by my novel hot top clip which consists of a ring of wire, strip or the like which corresponds in shape to the section of the hot top lining which it is to be used to secure. The clip is generally in the form of a polygon with an even number of sides, and having at at least two opposite corners, deformable zigzag sections such that, when the sections are deformed, for example by means of a turnkey, the ring is permanently expanded in size. The clip may also be in the form of a ring, with one or more zigzag sections in its periphery. In use a set of hot top lining slabs, or a unitary sleeve is positioned about the walls of the mould or head box, and the hot top clip of this invention then inserted into the desired position. In that position, the zigzag sections at the two corners are deformed to increase the size of the ring and so urge the ring against the hot top lining slabs, thereby to urge the lining slabs securely against the mould or head box wall.

The hot top clip of this invention may be made of any suitable material. I prefer to use steel wire bent to shape, the zigzag sections preferably being formed of wire of somewhat thinner gauge than the remainder of the clip to allow for their easy deformation. If the walls of the mould or head box to be lined are corrugated, then the hot top clip may be provided with similar corrugations, the better to press the hot top lining against the wall.

In particular, my invention resides in a hot top clip of substantially rectangular configuration formed of two L-shaped members arranged to form a rectangle, the each end portion of each L-shape being deformed inwardly at an angle of substantially 45, adjacent end portions of the two L-shaped members lying in parallel spaced apart relationship, and a deformable link rigidly attached to each of the said adjacent end portions, the link running at an angle of less than to the outer end portion, measuring from the side of that end portion nearer the respective L-shaped member. In this connection, theangle of substantially 45 is not critical. Satisfactory clips can be produced with angles of 35-55, though angles of 40--S0 generally give better results.

In a particularly valuable aspect of my invention, the clip as described above has attached a ring of wire a little larger than the ring of the clip and spaced to lie in plane substantially parallel thereto. The two rings may be held together by suitable ties. The larger ring should be just small enough to'fit in the area to be lined so that in use it can act as a support for the lining prior to its insertion into the mould or head box. The ties are preferably L-shaped in order to avoid fouling the hot top lining slabs which may rest on the wider ring.

In the use of this embodiment, the clip is generally first inserted a little way into the mould or head box, the hot top ling slabs then slotted into place and the assembly then lowered to the desired position. The Z- shaped sections are then deformed, e.g. with a turn key, to expand the smaller ring and bias the lining slabs firmly outwardly against the wall of the mould or head box being lined.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 shows in plan view a hot top clip according to this invention FIG. 2 shows a turnkey for use in expanding the clip of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a clip in expanded position, and

FIG. 4 shows a clip in use in an ingot mould, in partly broken away perspective view;

FIG. 5 shows a clip for use in a square or circular mould, and

FIG. 6 shows a clip for use in a corrugated mould;

FIG. 7 shows in plan view a modified form of hot top clip of this invention having an outer support ring;

FIG. 8 shows the clip of FIG. 7 in use.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a clip for use with a hot top lining in a rectangular section big-end-down ingot mould of head size 27 inches X 24 inches. The clip consists of two identical L-shaped members 10, each of which is made of steel wire of diameter 0.1 to 0.25 inch, and two corner S-shaped pieces of 0.15 0.20 inch diameter steel wire 12 each welded to each member 10 at two points. The exact shape of pieces 12 is not material, but they must, together with the adjacent ends of members 10, constitute a zigzag section, in order that when pieces 12 are deformed the size of the ring formed by members 10 and 12 increases.

For deforming the pieces 12, a turnkey 14 is provided, consisting of a shaft 16, handle 18 and head 20 as shown in FIG. 2. The size of head 20 is such that the key can be placed over wire piece 12, this piece fitting into the slot 22 in head 20. Then, by axial rotation of shaft 16, the wire 12 may be deformed.

In use, the ingot mould may be lined with four slabs of refractory heat-insulating material (e.g. of the type described in US. Pat. Nos. Re25,9l5 and Re 25,905), the upper edges of these slabs being held in place by any convenient means. Either four generally rectangular slabs may be used or two L-shaped slabs of flexible heat-insulating material may be used, each lining two walls of the mould. Alternatively, a single piece lining may be used, as shown at 28 in FIG. 4, which is vertically positioned by Z-shaped ties 25. The clip of FIG. 1 is then inserted end wise into the mould, turned and brought up horizontally to a level a little above the lower edges of the slabs. Turnkey 14 is then placed with its head 20 over pieces 12, and turned anticlockwise, seen from above. This deforms the pieces 12 as shown in FIGS. 3 and thus expanding the ring to hold the lining slabs firmly against the ingot mould wall. In FIG. 4, the far corner 30 of the clip has been expanded, while the near corner is about to be expanded, by rotation of turnkey 14 as shown by the arrows.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a clip for use with a hot top lining in a square section big-end-down ingot mould of head size 22 inches X 22 inches. Such section, though square in shape has sweeping corner radii so as to create near circular shape. The clip consists of one circular-shaped member 38 with ends overlapping one another, made of steel wire 0.2 to 0.25 inch and one S shaped piece of 0.15 0.20 inch diameter wire 32 welded to member 38 at two points. When piece 32 is deformed the size of the ring formed by members 32 and 38 increases.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a clip for use with a hot top lining in a rectangular section big-end-down ingot mould of head size 19 inches X 21 inches. The ingot mould interior, though rectangular in section contains flutes or corrugations in the interior wall surface. The clip consists of two identical L-shaped members 34, which members have projections 36 which correspond to the flutes in the mould walls, which members are made of steel wire 0.2 to 0.25 inch diameter and two corner S-shaped pieces 0.15 to 0.20 inch diameter wire 32 welded to member 34 at two points. When pieces 32 are deformed the size of the ring formed by pieces 34 and 32 increases and applies pressure at predetermined points in the hot top lining.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 these show a clip of the type shown in FIG. 1 but having, in addition, an outer wire ring 40 attached to member 10 by means of four wire ties 42. In use, this ring 40 supports the ring of heat insulating material 28 and serves also to maintain the ring formed by members 10 and 12 accurately horizontal in the mould and a correct predetermined distance from the base of the lining.

I claim as my invention:

1. A hot top clip for holding hot top liners in position against the walls of a cavity of an ingot mould or head box which comprises a first ring having the general shape of a polygon having at least four sides and shaped complementally to the cross-sectional shape of the cavity, said ring having at at least one point, a zigzag section, a deformable link forming part of said zigzag section, said deformable link being capable of being deformed to increase the size of the first ring sufficiently to hold the hot top liners against the walls of the cavity, and a second ring attached to said first ring and spaced therefrom in a plane substantially parallel to that of the first ring, said second ring being complementally shaped to said first ring and of a size larger than said first ring, said second ring being sized to abut and support the hot top liners in position in the cavity.

2. The hot top clip of claim 1 wherein said rings are formed of steel wire.

3. The hot top clip of claim 1 wherein said rings are formed of steel wire, said zigzag section being formed at least in part of wire of thinner gauge than that of the remainder of said first ring.

4. A method for lining the walls of a cavity of an ingot mould or head box with hot top liners which comprises inserting into the cavity a hot top clip comprising a first ring having the general shape of a polygon having at least four sides and shaped complementally to the cross-sectional shape of the cavity, said ring having at at least one point, a zigzag section, a deformable link forming part of said zigzag section, said deformable link being capable of being deformed to increase the size of the first ring sufficiently to hold the hot top liners against the walls of the cavity and a second ring attached to said first ring and spaced therefrom in a plane substantially parallel to that of the first ring, said second ring being complementally shaped to said first ring and of a size larger than said first ring, said second ring being sized to abut and support the hot top liners in the cavity, placing the hot top liners in the cavity against the walls thereof, and lowering said hot top clip and liners to the desired position with said second ring supporting the hot top liners, and deforming the deformable link to expand said first ring to bias the hot top liners firmly outwardly against the walls of the cavity.

5. The hot top clip of claim 1 wherein said first ring is of substantially a rectangular configuration formed of two L-shaped members arranged to form a rectangle,

end portion nearer the respective L-shaped member. 

1. A hot top clip for holding hot top liners in position against the walls of a cavity of an ingot mould or head box which comprises a first ring having the general shape of a polygon having at least four sides and shaped complementally to the cross-sectional shape of the cavity, said ring having at at least one point, a zigzag section, a deformable link forming part of said zigzag section, said deformable link being capable of being deformed to increase the size of the first ring sufficiently to hold the hot top liners against the walls of the cavity, and a second ring attached to said first ring and spaced therefrom in a plane substantially parallel to that of the first ring, said second ring being complementally shaped to said first ring and of a size larger than said first ring, said second ring being sized to abut and support the hot top liners in position in the cavity.
 2. The hot top clip of claim 1 wherein said rings are formed of steel wire.
 3. The hot top clip of claim 1 wherein said rings are formed of steel wire, said zigzag section being formed at least in part of wire of thinner gauge than that of the remainder of said first ring.
 4. A method for lining the walls of a cavity of an ingot mould or head box with hot top liners which comprises inserting into the cavity a hot top clip comprising a first ring having the general shape of a polygon having at least four sides and shaped complementally to the cross-sectional shape of the cavity, said ring having at at least one point, a zigzag section, a deformable link forming part of said zigzag section, said deformable link being capable of being deformed to increase the size of the first ring sufficiently to hold the hot top liners against the walls of the cavity and a second ring attached to said first ring and spaced therefrom in a plane substantially parallel to that of the first ring, said second ring being complementally shaped to said first ring and of a size larger than said first ring, said second ring being sized to abut and support the hot top liners in the cavity, placing the hot top liners in the cavity against the walls thereof, and lowering said hot top clip and liners to the desired position with said second ring supporting the hot top liners, and deforming the deformable link to expand said first ring to bias the hot top liners firmly outwardly against the walls of the cavity.
 5. The hot top clip of claim 1 wherein said first ring is of substantially a rectangular configuration formed of two L-shaped members arranged to form a rectangle, each end portion of each L-shape being deformed inwardly at an angle of substantially 45*, adjacent end portions of the two L-shaped members lying in a parallel spaced apart relationship and wherein a deformable link is attached to each adjacent end portions and each deformable link running at an angle of less than 90* to the outer end portions, measuring from the side of that end portion nearer the respective L-shaped member. 